Hoyer Statement on President Obama's Press Conference

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after President Obama's press conference:

“Tonight, President Obama made a strong case for his budget priorities and his Administration’s plan to confront this recession. It was reckless, short-term thinking that brought us to this point—and it is only the long-term perspective offered by President Obama that will help us build a real foundation for lasting prosperity. Building that foundation means moving toward energy independence, reining in the cost of healthcare, and creating the best-prepared workforce in the world; without that foundation in place, any recovery will likely be short-lived and to the benefit of just a privileged few.

“But just as importantly, we must return to a policy of fiscal responsibility to undo the recklessness of the Bush Administration and the economic crisis it left behind. The Obama budget does just that, cutting our deficit in half by 2013. President Obama joins House Democrats in insisting on reinstating the pay-as-you-go rule in law—meaning that our government will pay for what it buys. And he has led by example by spelling out how he would pay for his major initiatives.

“I look forward to beginning Congressional debate on the President’s budget proposal next week. It will be a debate over the priorities and values we want America to embrace—foremost among them, the values of responsibility and shared prosperity. And I look forward to continuing Democrats' comprehensive effort to bring the recession to an end."